Bichon FurKids Rescue

Available Dogs

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:57 Z

Available Dogs

This week we will be introducing a number of new fur kids who are in foster care and will be ready to begin meeting Forever Families. Please check back for more information, new bios and photos.

Hi People,

My name is Tipper and I’m a one year old sweetheart of a bichon, I’m a cuddler and a lover, a kisser and a tail wagger… just a darling little guy who is great with other dogs and children. My foster mom says I’m a very sweet little bichon boy with a big heart, eyes that follow you everywhere and a sparkling personality! She says I am very playful -- and that there is no doubt that I am VERY smart! I am housebroken and even go to the door to tell you it’s time to go out. You see, I already learned how to figure things out – and I like to get approval for my newfound skills. In other words, I want to please!

Dad says I am a good listener and a great companion! I like to be wherever he or Mom is – and where my doggy foster brothers are, too, but I am never intrusive. If I can lie nearby, that is fine. If I can be in someone’s lap… well that is even better!!! Mom says that with a pack of dogs I am submissive to the pack leader however I am confident and secure in who I am and get along well with everyone!

When Bichon FurKids found me I had been hit by a car and needed surgery. Well, Mom says to tell you I came through that with flying colors and have almost fully recovered. I’m learning to put more and more pressure on my back leg and soon I’ll be able to run and go for long walks! The doctor says I healed well and am as ‘good as new.’ I don’t know what that means but I sure feel perky and happy!

Dad says that I am a great rider (in the car, that is!) and that I love to go anywhere with him where I can meet people. He says I love everyone and am very sweet natured. They both say that I do everything well. I would be happiest in a home with a doggy brother or sister---and with a family that is home a lot. And if my family could take me on lots of walks and give me belly rubs, I would think I was in heaven. (That and cuddling a lot, too!) I am just a happy, fun-loving and sweet little creature who never complains, loves to give doggy kisses and has a giving heart.

If I sound like the kind of fur kid that you are looking for, please fill out an application as I am waiting to meet you.

Thanks a lot!

xoxox Tipper

Hello World,

My name is Breanna and I am a sweet and loving bichon girl of sixteen months who is playful, energetic and VERY smart – and comes in a very cute package!

Mom says I LOVE to play and am a very active little girl. She says I am also pretty entertaining. I like to play with my squeaky toys, play tug of war with my bichon foster brother and like to wrestle with him. (He likes to wrestle with me, too! (Mom says we’re really pretty gentle with each other. We also like to do the bichon buzz to see who does it best.)

I love to ride in the car and go on my walks! When you take out the leash, I am raring to go! I have learned how to sit, know my name and am learning all kinds of commands. When my walks and play dates are over, my favorite thing to do is snuggle. Mom says I also like to ‘fly’ onto her bed and snuggle under the pillows (and peak out with my little face to see what is happening around me!) She says I am REALLY a cutie!

Dad says I am housebroken, a really sweetie and that I want to devote myself to someone. He says I was a little shy around him at first but I am learning to overcome that slowly and surely. You see he is a big guy and I’m a little girl of only 14 pounds so I need to learn that men can be kind and loving to little girls! (I’m already comfortable with women and young girls but am not so sure, yet, about men and boys.) A gentle, patient man will be able to win me over… I just need some reassurances right now.

Mom says I would do best in a home where I can receive lots of love and attention - a home with girls that want to play with me and even dress me up would be wonderful; a home with someone who likes to go on walks and rides and wants a little ‘girlfriend’ to join her would be ideal.

So if you want a little love of a girl with tons of promise, who is smart and wants to entertain you, please complete our application as I am waiting to meet you.

xoxoxoxo

Breanna

Hi People,

My name is Snickers and I’m a two year old sweetheart of a bichon -- a cuddler and a lover, great with other dogs and with children. My foster mom says I’m a very sweet little bichon boy (about 10 pounds soaking wet) with a big personality! She says I am very playful -- and that there is no doubt that I am VERY smart! I am housebroken and even go to the door to tell you it’s time to go out. You see, I already learned how to figure things out – and I like to get approval for my newfound skills. In other words, I want to please!

Dad says I am a good listener and a great companion! I like to be wherever he or Mom is - but I am not intrusive. If I can lie nearby, that is fine. If I can be in someone’s lap… well that is even better!!! Dad says that I am a great walker and a great rider (in the car, that is!). I love to go for long walks and short walks. As long as I can be with my person and enjoying the out of doors I’m very content!

Mom says I do everything well. She says I would be happiest in a home with a doggy brother or sister---and with a family that is home a lot. And if my family could take me on lots of walks and to the dog park, I would think I was in heaven. (That and cuddling a lot, too!) I am just a happy, fun-loving and energetic little creature who never complains, loves to give doggy kisses and has a great big loving heart.

If I sound like the kind of fur kid that you are looking for, please fill out an application as I am waiting to meet you.

Thanks a lot!

xoxox Snickers

Hi People,

My name is Paulie and I have a lot to smile about, lots of places to go and people to see. I'm a very handsome bichon of nine who is happy go lucky, spunky and energetic. My foster mom says I am a character and an absolute JOY! She says I am agile, LOVE to go for long walks, am great in the car and that I get along well with other dogs and with cats! (She says that makes me a VERY special young man!)

Mom says to tell you I am perfectly housebroken, a real gentleman and that I am great with adults and children over ten. I am in great shape, a very happy little guy and very gregarious. Because bichons are long lived, I have many happy, loving years ahead of me to spend with someone who will love me and whom I can love. If I sound like your kind of guy, please complete our adoption application as I am waiting to meet you.

Xoxoxo Paulie the Prince

Hi World...

I'm Justin and I'm a three year old bichon. While I’m a cute little guy of about 18 pounds, I am not quite your average bichon. I’ve had a bit of a rocky start in my young life so I’m going to need a special person who is filled with love - but can also be patient, and consistent, with me.

My favorite thing in the world is to go on walks – and I am extremely well mannered on my leash. I’m in training with my Mom and Dad and have become great friends with my foster brothers and sister. Why I even discovered I can play with them!

On the other hand I’m not wild about the dog park– because there are some dogs I just don’t care for. Mom says I can make friends – but I am selective! I don’t care for puppies, wrestlers or wild acting dogs. I’d rather just play chase with a toy. Mom says I am very nice and kind to my toys -- and I can be very entertaining when I play.

Dad says I'm totally housetrained (he takes me out a lot because I love to go on walks - the more, the better!) and I have learned commands. I know Come, Sit, Let’s Go, Lie Down and Leave It. I am crate trained and completely comfortable hanging out with my blankies and toys. I also like to curl up on my dog bed and watch whatever is going on.

Mom says that I'm not a barker, I don’t chew things and am good in the house - but that it does take time for me to relax and warm up to someone. Once I do, I become a kissing, tail wagging happy guy. It’s just that meeting new people is pretty stressful to me and some people just plain scare me. When they do, I can be pretty scary right back.

Mom says I’ll do best in a home that is a bit on the quiet side - without a lot of new people coming and going. The most important thing for you to know is that I have a lot of potential -- and have come a LONG way already in a very short period of time. In a loving home with an experienced dog person I can go the rest of the way – and become the happy little bichon I really want to be all the time.

If I sound like the kind of fur kid that you are looking for, please complete an application for me and ask for Justin, 'cause I'll be waiting to hear from you.

xxxxxxx Justin

More Fur Kids

We are so happy that we have been rescued and soon our bios and more photos will be posted. In the meantime, please keep checking back to learn about us. You can also complete an adoption application so we can get to know you faster.

Visit our site often for more information and photos about more fur kids we are working to rescue!


Christopher	Mckenna	Chloe
	Adoption Pending


Cody	Bobby	Fletcher



Kramer	Kari	King


Healing Fur Kids Each week BFK takes in dogs that need extra medical care and who, without surgery, would be put to sleep. These pups are in loving foster homes where they are recovering. If you care to support us with a onetime donation or would like to sponsor a pup during its recovery, please click on the link under their photo and know that your contribution will help these little ones to once again be whole.

Tipper	Jiggs	Carter

Read the "Puppy Size" story

Please see listings for our dogs also on

http://www.petfinder.org

http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

Bichons and Bichon mixes need to be groomed regularly. When not tended to, their hair (not fur) tends to grow very long and then mat if not brushed or combed. The kindest thing we can do, when we take in a dog in this condition, is to shave it down.

In a matter of weeks, beautiful, white, healthy hair will grow. So, if you see a dog that's available and it's a little short on hair,... know that it will be a beautiful white, fluffy, haired darling within a few weeks.

Applications

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:04:22 Z

Applications

As part of our application process, we complete home and yard safety checks, conducted by volunteers within specific geographic areas. As a result, we adopt our bichons primarily within California, as well as Arizona and Nevada. If you live outside of Southern California and are willing to drive or fly to Southern California to meet a fur kid or two, we would be happy to work with you. For those of you who live beyond the area we serve and love bichons, we are happy to refer to other bichon rescue organizations.

Click on the links below for the forms that you can fill out and submit.

Adoption Application
Volunteer Application
Surrender Form and Agreement

Contact information:

<%= email 'info@bichonfurkids.org' %>

Marti Colwell
Contact for Applications and Inquiries
<%= email 'marti@bichonfurkids.org' %>
760-525-5556

Deb Gibb, Outreach Coordinator
Contact for Home Checking
<%= email 'debbie@bichonfurkids.org' %>
858-695-6885

Adopted_012

Mon, 12 May 2008 20:32:17 Z

Happy Adoptions

We are so pleased that your love and donations have enabled us to place so many dogs in their forever homes. Here are some of our most recent adoptions. Continued thanks to all of you for allowing us to make a difference in a dog's life.


Milo

Huckleberry	Tucker	Herbie

Kiki	Gibson	Dee Dee

Missy	Robby	Sherlock

Lexie	Pippin	Charity

Carson	Trevor	Dennis

Aimee	Abbie	Trinity

Sawyer	Gabi	Penny

Adoption Success

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:16:35 Z

Adoption Success

Last October during the wildfires, we lost our dog Mia to kidney failure. Mia had been with us for almost 13 years. Two years earlier, our dog Kyler had also passed away from kidney failure. Losing ‘my girls’ was very hard for me, but the following months seemed so quiet. That is hard to believe considering we have two young children – Gavin, 4 years old, and Ainsley 1. But after they went to bed, the house seemed so quiet and still.

In college, I had “babysat” a pair of Bichons for some family friends while they traveled -- and I loved them. I started researching Bichons in December and found the Bichon FurKids website. Both Mia and Kyler were adopted from an animal shelter and I wanted to adopt or rescue again. A Bichon seemed like a perfect dog for us.

I told my husband I wanted to fill out the application. “It’s no commitment,” I told him. “We’ll just see what happens.” I filled out the application on a Tuesday evening. The next morning I got a call from BFK and was excited to hear about a sweet dog that was being fostered less than a mile from my home. A volunteer came by Wednesday afternoon to inspect our home and then the kids and I were off to meet Emily that same day! Emily was very sweet, but not a fit for our family. I was very disappointed, but Daria, Emily’s foster mom, assured me that we would meet our perfect Bichon. “Don’t worry,” she told me, “You’ll just know when you find him.”

That evening, we saw a picture of Danny Boy and thought he’d be great for us. We couldn’t meet him until the weekend – so we set up a time for Sunday. My husband, Matt, the kids and I were excited to be meeting Danny Boy. Matt and I were trying to figure out what we would call him -- as Danny Boy didn’t seem right for us. We met Danna, his foster mom, at a park and the kids played with Danny. Danna told us Danny Boy was very mellow and quiet; he didn’t bark much and loved to go for walks. He was perfect for us. We adopted him and took him home. We kept the name Danny Boy because Gavin said, “That is his name, and you can’t just change it!”

Danny seemed a bit unsure at first and it didn’t help that I had to go out of town that week - but we took him with us to visit my family in Bakersfield. My entire family loved him. I’m sure Danny was confused as to where home was. He wouldn’t go outside unless someone went with him. I think he was afraid I would leave him. He followed me everywhere. Now my entourage includes two kids and a dog.

Danny has been with us for a little over two months now. Remember the dog who didn’t bark? Apparently he found his voice. He loves to bark at the birds in the backyard and people and dogs walking by in the front. He has just completed obedience school and we did great. (Danny probably didn’t need obedience school, but I did.) We love to practice sitting, lying down, staying and heeling. Now we’ll probably take a class on tricks or maybe even to become a therapy dog, since Danny loves to cuddle.

Evenings at our home are still quiet -- but usually because Danny is so exhausted from playing outside with the kids all afternoon. He loves to fetch his Kong toy and chase, or be chased by, the kids. He loves when I brush him at night and tell him how handsome he is. I think Danny loves his new home and we sure love him.

Thanks, Bichon FurKids, for bringing us together.

Kim, Matt, Gavin and Ainsley… and, of course, Danny

After watching our 8 year old daughter sit for hours loving and playing with my mom's Bichon, we knew it was time to add a smaller dog to our family. We also felt our 4 year Golden Retriever was ready for a new friend. We considered a puppy -- and we were ready to pick him up -- but I just didn't feel it was the right decision for us. I felt rescuing was what we were supposed to do so I started researching different rescue groups.

I saw Bichon FurKids on-line and just knew this was where we needed to adopt from. I called Marti and she picked up the phone on my first attempt and thoroughly explained the process to me. We chose a tiny little guy named Gibson who has stolen all of our hearts. He was very thin and a little frightened when we brought him home. The first few days Gibson's favorite thing to do was hide! Less than 2 weeks later, however, he wasn't missing a beat -- and was the first one to greet people when the doorbell rang. We fed him small, frequent meals and he quickly put on weight.

Gibson is truly the sweetest little guy in the world! He loves to ride in the car and we take him with us to watch our kids' games on the weekend and he is always the main attraction at the ball field! We can't imagine who would ever have let him go because he truly is the "perfect dog." Gibson loves people (big and small), dogs, and is eager to please. He enjoys his walks and is perfect on the leash. The kids can't wait to see him when they get home from school and he has learned to wait in the afternoon near the door anticipating their return.

Gibson has really added joy to our life and we feel so blessed to have him.
Thank you Bichon Furkids!

Jennifer, Todd, Austin and Madison... and, of course, Gibson

We adopted Spice in January. My ten-year-old twin daughters (and well as my husband and I) have come to adore him, and he has become good buddies with our other dog, a Cavashon named Miley.

Spice is a funny, sweet little guy who quickly became a member of our family. Now we can't imagine life without him. It makes us feel so good that we were able to rescue him, and give him a happy life filled with doggie treats, walks, games of chase with Miley, and lots of snuggling and play time!

He's a wonderful addition to our family, and we feel lucky to have found such a nice (not to mention cute!) dog by working with Bichon FurKids.

- Don, Julie, Olivia, Anna, Miley, and Spice

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Bichon FurKids and Marti for bringing to us the most wonderful addition to our family, Prince. I never in my life thought I could love a dog so much in such a short time.

He is friendly and so very smart. He is loving and playful and although I havehad to purchase more than one new pair of slippers it is well worth the joy he brings our family daily.

Although no transition is ever perfect, and it always takes time to adjust to a new family member, we feel that Marti could not have made a better choice for our family. We have two small active children who just looooovvvvve Prince. He is great with them.

I tell anyone I meet about Bichon FurKids and hope others will experience the joy of having one of these beautiful dogs become a member of their family.

Thanks again!!!

Prince’s new Family

Hi Marti,

It is a month since we drove out to California to meet and adopt Sampson. I don't know where to start...it has been the best month this year!

A year ago our 16 yr. old Bichon Nicki, who I got as an 11 week old puppy in 1990, was put to rest. Then in July, we lost our second Bichon Dusty (who we adopted in 1998) shortly after she was diagnosed with Cancer. There was nothing more we could do for her. In two weeks she was gone. Both Bichons had been the center of our lives. I had spent many months caring for our aging Nicki. The loss of Dusty so soon after Nicki was overwhelming that I was crying everyday. My husband said the loss was too painful and he didn't want another dog.

Our house was so silent and our hearts so empty that I started looking at Rescue groups on the Internet. I would look everyday at dogs up for adoption in Arizona, hoping that my husband would be interested. He showed no interest and was getting deeper into depression over loosing his little girl.

In early October I did some research and found Bichon FurKids in California. I contacted them about my interest in adopting a single Bichon or a bonded pair. Marti emailed me to fill out the application and let me know that a representative of BFK was going to be in our area of Arizona to do a home safety check. I took this as an omen.

I asked my husband, Ira, if he would agree to this and told him that we didn't have to adopt if we didn't want to. After we were approved by Alexandra, my husband seemed uninterested in looking at any dogs up for adoption. He was still mourning Dusty. Then Phyllis had sent me a picture of Sampson. I emailed Marti and Phyllis that Ira was not ready and decided I was going to stop looking and wait till next year.

I was so sad as I had such hopes that Ira would agree to adopt again. The upcoming holiday season looked very bleak. A few days later, after walking with his friends, Ira wanted to know why I had not shown him any more photos of dogs? He was now interested - so I immediately showed him Sampson and several others. Ira was interested in knowing more... and I was in shock..I emailed Phyllis and Marti and told them that we were a "go" for a new dog!!

Ira wanted to know all about Sampson, he said he looked a little like our Nicki, I agreed, and a little like Dusty too. Sampson's foster mom, Michele, called us and we decided, right then and there, to make the trip to California with the intention of adopting Sampson. Our daughter volunteered to drive us there and back.

Well....it was love at first sight! Ira was ready to take Sampson home with us 5 minutes after he met him. He was so happy and excited about Sampson. This was important to me -- as I wanted Ira to decide. Sampson was so cute - with his long legs and such a happy guy - anyone would have fallen for him. He walked into our car kennel and made the long drive back to Arizona with me sitting beside him. I think we bonded right there in the car that night.

Today Sampson has made our home his. He has met our grandchildren and they get along fine. Our 18 month. old grandson found out that if he drops food from his high chair Sampson will be there to catch it. Sampson is very social with everyone he meets. This little guy with the long legs runs up and down our long hall way throwing his toys in the air and catching them!! Sampson also has a large yard to run and play in. He loves belly rubs and has the sweetest smile. Sampson sleeps with us, usually starting at the bottom and winding up curled next to Ira. He enjoys running so much that later this month Sampson is enrolled in obedience classes leaning towards agility. We are so excited for him.

Thank you Bichon FurKids for bringing Sampson into our lives. Please let Sampson's mom know that he will always be with us and is being loved, spoiled & well cared for. We will always love our dear Dusty and Nicki, they will never be replaced. Our hearts are now warm again and our days are filled with enjoying Sampson.

Happy Holidays to All at Bichon Furkids, you are great people.

Thanks from Sampson's Forever Home & family,

Loretta & Ira
Prescott Valley, AZ.

My three daughters have been asking for a dog since the day they could talk. We wanted to wait until they were old enough to take good care of a dog. My oldest daughter, Jackie (age 7), finally wore her dad down and convinced him that she would be a good dog mommy. This began my search in August for the right kind of dog. We knew we wanted a small dog that would not shed. I was a previous owner of a Golden Retriever and as beautiful as they are, they are not a lap dog and shed a lot. We did not want to buy a puppy from a puppy mill and after visiting so many animal shelters, we knew we wanted to rescue a dog. That is when I remembered that my neighbor, Marcia was a foster mom for Bichon FurKids so, I gave her a call. She told me about the web site and that the first step was to complete an application. We all looked at the web site and fell in love with all the doggies. I immediately completed the application and soon had a house inspection. We constantly viewed the web site and that is when we found Mindy (now called, Fluffy). \We went to visit her at her foster mom’s (Daria) house. It was love at first sight and we took her home that day! I want to thank Marti Colwell for starting this rescue program and all the volunteer Foster Mom’s for all the caring and love they provide until the doggies are adopted. Fluffy has really changed our world for the best!

Happy Holidays!

Phil, Joy, Jackie, Cristina and Caitlyn

Dear Bichon FurKids,

We wanted to give you an update on how our Rollie is doing - as he is doing so well.

He is the biggest love bug and is really starting to eat and show us more of his personality every day. There is no doubt that we just love this boy to death.

Thanks so much for helping us find our forever new addition.

Love,

Reba, Justin, Tonya, Tori, Kaleb and Rollie

I just wanted to let you all know that, ever since I was adopted over 18 months ago , I've been a happy happy Bichon! My moms never had a dog before but they sure know how to make me feel like part of the family. The three of us go on boat rides around the lake where I just sit and watch all the wild life. I love riding in the passenger seat of the little blue car and now I ride around in a golf cart. Riding is my exercise of choice. All these different things are fun and people stop to say hi alot and notice what a cute face I have - especially when I cock my head when they speak. I'm still kinda skittish about people touching me and there are some dogs that I just don't like. (This is from my past and I'm working on trusting more.) But all in all - I eat well, snore when I sleep, do tricks for treats, enjoy an occasional sleep-over with my new sitter and just am happy. I know I'm lucky and I let them know it when I just look at them. Thanks to Bichon FurKids, my foster Mom, Marci , and Marti - my second half of life is DOGFASTIC!

Love,
Cali

Dear Bichon FurKids,

I have a wonderful Bichon named Cody because of you. My Corgi, Sara, died in 2005 at 17 and I thought I could never replace her - but Cody has stolen my heart and my husband's. He is 7 years old and he fit right into our home as if he has always been with us.

Before we got Cody, we had visited my husband's boss and his family in Phoenix. They have two Bichons which I fell in love with. They showed me the Bichon FurKids web site and I filled out an application around April 4th. Phyllis called me the next day and I had an immediate home check. I passed and picked up Cody on the 7th, Talk about service! I can't thank BFK and Marti enough. Marti has been wonderful with all my questions. What a great organization.

We will be on vacation and will miss "The Bash" but we will be thinking of you.

Best Wishes to all Bichon lovers,
Melinda Neal - and Cody!

We found Polo through Bichon FurKids. We already had an 18 month old Bichon/Poodle mix named Boots and were looking for a buddy for him, as well as another pet for our two kids, Zoe (6) and Cooper (4). We got a call asking if we would be willing to foster a little guy named Polo who desperately needed to be rescued. We were a little hesitant about fostering since we didn’t have a whole lot of information about the dog, but once we saw a picture of Polo, we couldn’t resist. The poor little guy had wounds to heal and needed a little time and extra love to make him healthy again.

From the moment Polo came into our home he melted our hearts. After that first night with us, we knew we would adopt him! He is such a wonderful dog and has just fit right in with our family – it’s like he’s always been a part of us! Polo and Boots play together perfectly, just like brothers. And the kids absolutely adore him. We take lots of walks and Polo just loves to cuddle and be loved! He also loves to sleep in a nice warm bed with whoever is willing to share their pillow! We feel so blessed to have found this sweet dog. He truly completes our family!

Wendy, Joe, Zoe and Cooper

My husband and I have been searching for a dog that we would be perfect for and would be perfect for us. We knew from the beginning that we wanted a rescue dog. There are so many animals in shelters with no families and no one to love them, it is heartbreaking. We have looked tirelessly online and searched local shelters, but could never find the perfect kit for us. It was not until I was contacted by the extremely kind and helpful staff from the Bichon FurKids rescue that we found out dream dog. Max (used to me named Armani) is smart, cute and playful. He is now a part of our family and we could not be happier. Thank you to the Bichon FurKids and thank you to Petfinder for completing our family.

April, Eric and Max (Ruff!)

Lucie has fit right into our family. She’s an adorable little dog. She enjoys walking the kids to and from school and getting showered with attention from all of the kids who come and coo over how cute she is. Even though she’s a little dog, she loves to go on long walks and is always happy to be outdoors. Afterward, she relaxes on the couch with us while we are watching television or reading. Her favorite place to sleep is with Isabelle in the princess room. (The perfect place for the little princesses!)

We were so happy to find a dog through Bichon FurKids. When Lucy came to us, she had been abandoned and was recovering from wounds she received from being covered in foxtails—one had even been in her eye! It has made us all even more protective of the little dog that we saved—making a difference in her life has made a difference in ours!

Tonya, Eric, Olivier & Isabelle

Diego - Before

Thirteen years ago we rescued a male bichon we called Pele. One year later we brought home a young female bichon we named Abbie, also a rescue. Abbie calmed Pele, who had been abused, and helped him to be more social. The two of them were a bonded pair, inseparable, comical and beloved members of our family. All was well until last Oct. when Pele died. Over the next few days, Abbie quit eating and drinking, was listless and traumatized. Our vet told us that he feared we might lose Abbie, as we had Pele. The grief that we were experiencing as a family was compounded with the possibility of also losing Abbie! We knew in our hearts that we could never replace Pele - but we were ready to open up our hearts and home again to another rescue so that Abbie could live!

The process that took place with Bichon FurKids was amazing. Over the next few weeks, we exchanged dozens of e-mails and phone calls and ultimately had an opportunity to meet several fur kids in foster care to determine the best fit for our family, and, in particular, Abbie. When we met Diego he was skinny and had been shaved down due to severe matting. But we fell in love with him instantly - and watched Abbie perk up for the first time in days, interacting with him from the very moment they met. We were so impressed with the wonderful home that Katie, his foster mom, had provided for him - and know that Bichon FurKids is blessed to have people like Katie and Dan to foster and provide interim homes for their rescued bichons. We can’t thank them enough for their gift of love to our little guy!

Diego has adjusted well to his new home and to Abbie. He is a very intelligent little guy! Our entire family has fallen in love with him and is amused by his cute personality, energy and loving nature. The two pups love to cuddle, take walks together, play with toys and chew rawhide bones. Abbie has gained yet another opportunity to love and mold a new companion - and it has made her young again!

We were amazed at the attention to every detail and love that was demonstrated by Marti, Barbara and Katie. I would like to thank Marti and Bichon FurKids for the work they do - and for making a commitment to each dog to find the very best forever home for that dog. We are so grateful that we were chosen to provide a forever home for our little Diego!

Frank, Susan, Abbie and Diego

Ricky and Lucy are the most gentle and sweet dogs we have ever lived with. When they arrived at our home four months ago, Ricky was immediately full of love and affection due to his wonderful foster parents, Barbara and Paul. Lucy was still healing from her past and hid under the dining room table for the first 3 days. But now she is fully recovered and exhibits warmth, friendliness and joy. They have both become an integral part of our family.

Ricky and Lucy love to play with each other by running at lightning speed through the house and out the doggie door into the back yard where the “Bichon Blitz” takes place. They hunker down and chase each other in a circle or figure eight looking like well trained race horses! Ricky and Lucy are incredibly beautiful. We never know when the “Blitz” will take place, but when it starts, we stop everything and sit on the sidelines to watch and laugh.

One of their favorite ‘hangouts’ is their private sunny massage table located under a window in the front of the house. They have a stair step up and can see up and down the street when we are away. Lucy can watch for her “boyfriend” (aBorder Collie) who lives across the street.

When we took Ricky and Lucy to the local Dog Park for the first time, we were thrilled to see how happy they were. They enjoyed running with the packs and getting to know other breeds. They fit right in and expressed their playful, pleasant personalities with everyone.

They are our family now, our forever dogs. Thanks Bichon FurKids Rescue, Marti Colwell and Barbara Riggs for the work you do with this precious breed and for bringing Ricky and Lucy to our home.

Loretta and Piero

I joined Bichon FurKids in August as a volunteer foster parent. My original intentions were to adopt a little young female puppy for my two year old male Bichon named Cody as a companion. In September I received a call from Marti to help with a group of seven male puppies ranging in age from 6 to 18 months. I agreed to help - thinking that this would be good practice for the female when she arrived. I drove down to Carlsbad on a Tuesday night with the intention of helping to socialize these puppies. I arrived at her house to find volunteers helping in every way. Some were cleaning the puppies, some were soothing the dogs - and some were there just for moral support. I quickly chose the smallest male I could find that had been shaved and cleaned.

Back to Mission Viejo I drove with this extremely shy, scared little boy who would only hide in the corner of his carrier. Upon arrival at my home I had to remove the top of the crate in order to get the puppy who we named “Conner” out of his box. He just sat in my lap with his head buried and shook. My family and I continued to hold and snuggle the little guy for the remainder of the week, while working with him on a leash for potty training. We paper trained him in a small environment during the day when we had to leave him - and Cody would sniff him and visit with him thru the fence. After week two Conner would cry when I put him in the kennel at night, as he could see Cody in bed with me. I decided to let him join us and so the “love affair” began.

After several weeks of communicating with Marti on “Conner’s” progress she was starting to talk about what type of family Conner would need. At that point I realized I was in love and hooked – line and sinker. There was no parting with this cute little fur ball. Even with his extremely shy ways we had bonded thru and thru. My boy Cody had completely accepted him as his little brother, taking him in and literally training him on how to use the doggy door, how to walk on a lease and how to trust two legged friends. We are a family now and couldn’t be happier.

Sure, I could have waited for the perfect female puppy for my family but the rewards would not even compare to the wonderful ways in which this little guy has grown and is growing daily. We still have a way to go – but boy is it worth it!! I guess you could say I am a failed foster mother but an extremely lucky adoptive one!!

Tina Parchinski – Rescue Volunteer

Life has changed dramatically for sweet little Sasha, our adorable bichon-poodle mix, rescued thanks to the dedication and perseverance of the BichonFurKids volunteers. Only a few weeks ago, "Sasha," was an emaciated little pooch, wandering the streets, matted and dirty, frightened, and fending for herself. Now she has a forever home where she is loved and pampered not only by us (her human family) but also by her two canine brothers, both of whom were also rescue dogs. The three of them are always together--sleeping on the sofa next to each other and often choosing to sleep in the same dog bed even though we have three identical dog beds.

Sasha and our family are so grateful to Marti Colwell and her network of BichonFurKids volunteers, who not only care deeply about the welfare of animals, but actually do something about it. They drive to animal shelters, saving the lives of countless sweet doggies, such as Sasha. After rescuing the dogs, BichonFurKids carefully screens adoptive parents, who will provide loving forever homes for these precious doggies. The BichonFurKids network of volunteers are also able to place dogs that are being given up, but luckily have not yet been taken to the pound!

As in Sasha's case, each "doggie" story is different--but all are sad.

Everyone of the dogs saved by BichonFurKids needed a home through no fault of its own. Some are homeless because their owners had died; others lost their homes because their owners got divorced; and still others, like Sasha, were simply dumped! But they all have one thing in common--the sadness in their eyes can easily be replaced with happiness when they find forever homes as a result of the kindness of the BichonFurKids volunteers.

Anyone, who has ever adopted a rescue dog, knows the joys that their companionship brings. They are there for you--all of the time--ready to kiss you, play ball with you, walk with you, or simply watch television with you. (They never argue with you about the channel and will even sit on your lap while you watch reruns of reruns!)

With love and some of our home cooking, Sasha is gaining needed weight. She was about 8 pounds when she was rescued--our vet says she should be about 15 pounds. Sasha has become such an important part of our family--it is hard to believe she has only been with us about a month.

If you want your life brightened by a pet or pets, please think about adoption rescue--it does not matter if a pet is young, old, or in-between--just look into its eyes, see its wagging tail, and know that you have made a love match for life!

Beth W. (Sasha's mom)

Please meet Pedro, a 3 year old bichon that was abandoned in an apartment when the owner moved. He was rescued by Bichon FurKids and found a wonderful Forever Family who have found him to be the perfect addition to their family.

Here is what his Forever Family has to say: Pedro is everything we were looking for, he's obedient, loveable, and playful. Our entire family has fallen in love with him and he shows his appreciation by rolling around on his back with joy, and then popping up and looking at us in a way that says, life is good, thank you. Pedro loves to sniff around the neighborhood and check out what is going on. When we first brought him home he got very excited when he saw other dogs and people, and wanted to run up to them and sniff and play. But in training he learned the command "leave it" and can now control his desire and need to be loved and noticed by every person and dog that sees him. We have all adapted well and can't imagine life without Pedro!

Thanks, Bichon FurKids!

Tara, Steve, Jeremy, Simon and Gabi

Higgins…..that’s my name and my Mom and Dad say I’m the perfect little dog, in fact they call me Higgins the Wonder Dog!! Little did they know my start in life was not so perfect. I lived on the streets of San Diego and had to fend for myself, struggling to find food, and a warm place to sleep each night. Neighbors in the area yelled at me and shooed me away. They told the animal control that I was an aggressive dog and needed to be removed from their neighborhood. Fortunately for me, the humane society called Bichon FurKids Rescue and I was saved by a wonderful volunteer who saw through my so called aggressive behavior and knew I was just a scared little puppy dog.

My foster Mom Jan and her son Patrick took such good care of me and I began to trust people once again. I lived with them and their doggies for several weeks while my “forever” Mom and Dad fostered Lucy and Ricky. When Lucy and Ricky found their forever Mom and Dad, I was then able to meet my sister Lily (she’s a yellow Lab). We hit it off right away and today are the best of friends. We sleep together on doggie pillows next to Mom and Dad’s bed. We also love to chase each other through the house and play wrestle. Lily has taught me how to use the doggie door and also how to sneak on Mom and Dad’s bed in the morning.

My Dad says I’m really part kitty cat because I adore climbing on top of the pillows on the sofa and love to ride in the car on the tops of the seats. I also like to sit on the chair next to our front room window and watch doggies walk by our house. I am a very good watch dog and let my Mom and Dad know each time some one walks by. I’m also terrific at turning in circles on my back legs when Mom gets out the treats. Mom says I’m dancing for treats. Lily does most of the talking for us, she tells Mom when it’s time to get the treats out for us.

I’m so grateful to Bichon FurKids for their dedication to little lost dogs like me. I will always remember my wonderful foster Mom and her son and thank them for being able to give me up to my forever Mom and Dad. I know it was hard for my foster Mom because she cried when we drove away. My forever Mom and Dad and my sister Lily are the best things that ever happened to me……(Mom says Lily and I are the best things that ever happened to them).

Please consider adoption if you’re thinking about bringing a fur kid into your home, or if you’re not certain, foster a little rescued pup. If it wasn’t for Bichon FurKids Rescue, I’m certain my life would not be the wonderful life it is today. We rescued doggies are grateful pups and try to be on our best behavior for our new Moms and Dads. We thank them and Bichon FurKids every day for helping us.

God bless you Bichon FurKids, your wonderful volunteers, and your compassionate foster Moms and Dads.

Love, Higgins…….the wonder dog!!

Dear Foster Mom,

This is Gizmo, and I am writing to say thank you for being my foster Mom and finding my new forever home. I love my new Mom and brother Murphy - well at least my Mom, I'm trying to be a good brother to Murphy. He wants to play and lick me, but I'm not ready just yet. Murphy 'puts up with my growling at him' when he gets close to my toy, but also comes running when I bark at something. I have lots of new toys and my favorite is a small red hard rubber ball. I go everywhere with it. Mom has to watch when I take it on walks because sometimes I lose it.

I also love to bark at the 'condo cat' and I want to chase him, but Mom tugs me back and signs to stop it. Mom says I have to learn not to bark at every dog or cat and be quiet like Murphy. I'm trying. I have learned to use the 'doggie door' and only had one accident. She is proud of me. Mom also says the hardest part was getting me to settle down to go to sleep at night. I kept her up many nights because all I wanted to do was bounce my ball off her head and have her throw it.

Mom now takes the toy box with all the toys and puts them away when it is bedtime and she gave me a 'blankee' to chew and snuggle with. I sleep on one of her pillows with my 'blankee' so I don't chew the comforter anymore.

I'm so good now and sleep all night right next to her. My brother, Murphy, sleeps on the bottom of the bed or under the bed.

Just wanted you to know I am happy and Mom is too!
Love,
Gizmo and Family

We just wanted to update you on Sammy's adoption. Sam has taken over our home and our hearts. He spends his days playing with Bailey, our 9 month old Bichon mix. They love playing tug of war, tag, and "hide the raw hide bone" (a game they invented). We had to buy a Great Dane-size doggy bed so that they could sleep together. Sam is so gentle with her and with our 15 yr old Pekingese Suki. He even is getting use to Trouble the cat who teases him constantly.

He also fits perfectly into our family. Sam has made it his job to watch our us as we shower in the morning (he peaks around the curtain to make sure we're okay), monitors meals (just in case something drops!) , and has made the whole left side of our couch his own. Around 8pm, after everyone has had dinner, treats, a run in the 1 acre backyard where we play fetch, the family settles down. Rex (my fiancé) at the right side of the couch with Bailey on his right thigh, Trouble the cat at his shoulder and Sam, with head on the left thigh-stretched over 3/4 of the couch. Dog in heaven- belly being scratched. I swear he grins!

Thank you for the part you have played in making our family complete. We just love him and his tail just keeps wagging!

Valerie Eidson and Rex Bowman
Sam's Ma & Pa

...Perhaps you remember the movie "Jerry McGuire" where Tom Cruise's character tells his girlfriend of his love for her by saying "You complete me." That's how we feel about sweet Molly - she truly completed our family.

Molly is beautiful both inside and out. She has a woderful temperament, loves to cuddle and kiss, and is very loviing and tolerant towards our little schnoodle, Goldie. We love her dearly and are very grateful to Bichon FurKids for arranging this "marriage made in heaven."

Jeannie,Kurt, Molly and Goldie

Our family was very full with two young girls and a 13 year old female, miniature poodle. Yet our youngest daughter continually asked us for her “own” dog. She had already picked out a name – Sara Belle - Sara being her favorite name and Belle after the Disney princess.

After a day or so of looking online, I found Bichon Fur Kids and began talking with Marti about finding a dog. Being surrounded by females, my husband was hoping for a male, but we all fell in love with a little dog named Sara (whom we re-named Sara Belle!)

Sara Belle has been with us four weeks, but it is like she has always been here. She gets along with our poodle, has lots of love and kisses and adores the girls. They fight over who gets to sleep with her so we alternate each night, although Paige seems to be getting more nights lately. Adopting Sara Belle has been a good experience made exceptional in that she has brought so much love to our family and we have helped to save her life. Thank you to Marti and all the volunteers at Bichon Fur Kids for the wonderful work you do!

Tina Huston and Family – and, of course, Sara Belle (San Diego, CA)

We would first like to thank Bichon Fur Kids for bringing Jackson into our lives. My husband and I recently got married and we really wanted a dog to keep us company and be apart of our family. We looked at shelters and other rescue foundations, and knew after a while that we wanted a small little fuzzy dog to snuggle and play with - and none of the dogs we met seemed to fit what we were looking for.

A few weeks after applying to Bichon Fur Kids to adopt a dog, they contacted us about being a foster family for a dog they recently rescued from the pound. After Marti described this sweet little dog and how he was so scared in the pound that he hadn't eaten for four days, we knew we wanted to take care of him.

When we first met Jackson he wasn't exactly what I had imagined. He was very skinny and dirty and, because he had lots of bites from bugs and from other animals, the shelter had completely shaved him -- and he was so scared that he hardly even moved or made a noise. But after a couple days with us and a good bath he started to become more comfortable and began to eat well and run around the house like he owned the place. My husband and I knew then that there was no way that we could give this cute little guy up!

We have had Jackson for about a month now and he is definitely part of the family! He loves to go on walks with us, lie in the sun, go to the beach, chase birds, get belly rubs, run around the backyard, play tug-of-war and curl up with us on the couch while we watch TV. He is extremely smart and was housebroken in only a few days and he responds very well to commands and to his own name. He is so sweet and calm and he has gotten really soft and fluffy (and a little round). He just follows us around the house wagging his tail and he always wants lots of love and attention, which we happily give him!

Thank you so much for the wonderful addition to our family!

Dan, Katie and Jackson Doornink

I put my 15 year old dog to sleep 1 year ago, and I was wanting a new dog, but not sure about getting involved with a rescued dog. I was a bit apprehensive about adopting a new dog, especially one with a questionable past. When I found Bichon Fur Kids, I was very excited about adopting a small, little ball of fur. I saw Riley on the site, and decided he was a custom ordered dog for me. He is only 8 pounds, and I wanted a small dog. His foster mom said he had some issues and that I needed to be very firm with him. He had been turned into the shelters twice. He was an angel from the first moment I saw him. He drove in his crate with me from San Diego to Orange County, and was just as happy as could be the whole way.

On his first day home, we went for a long walk to let him explore and burn off some energy. I practiced making him sit and wait for me as much as possible for him to see I was the “pack leader”. On the first day, he was as comfortable as can be in his new home. He stretched out on the rug in the sun for a good rest while I worked.

He has been the best dog. I named him Milo, and he is already responding well to his name. He comes when called, is housebroken, and will sit nicely while waiting for me to throw him a toy. He loves to play with his toys. He lets me brush him, and he didn’t mind the bath.

He is so cuddly. He loves everyone. He will even sit on my lap while I am working. I have not even had him for 2 weeks, yet it feels like he has been here forever. He sleeps so nicely in his crate every night. He puts himself to bed around 8:30pm. I call out for him, and find him curled up in his crate ready for bed. He can be coaxed out with the lure of some playtime or a walk. We walk every day to make sure he gets his energy out, and he loves it.

Milo loves his backyard. I have planters all along the back wall, and he thinks he is a big shot walking on the tops of the walls.

He is very curious. He loves to stand at the front door and watch people walk down the street. He especially loves standing outside on the upper deck to watch the dog next door. He never barks, and is always on his best behavior. He is a beautiful dog, and I love him more and more each day. Thank you for the work you do. I hope many other people know the pleasure of finding such a wonderful dog.

Kendra and Milo Williams

Jeff and I would like to thank Bichon FurKids for bringing Rosie into our lives! She has fit into our home so well that we can't imagine we ever lived without her.

We always had a love for dogs, but as young newlyweds and career people, didn't think we wanted to or could fit one into our schedule. So we decided to help foster dogs through Bichon FurKids. We figured it would be a nice, slow way to spend time with dogs and test things out. Rosie was the first dog brought to us, and within a few hours we were debating whether to keep her or not. We thought we had officially lost our minds! And we've definitely failed fostering because we couldn't give her up!

She's the cutest dog and I wish pictures could capture her personality because she's a bundle of energy and kindness. She loves to run around the park and chase birds, helicopters, and other flying objects. Her favorite nighttime activity is snuggling on the couch with us. We can tell when she's really tired because she turns on her back with her legs wide open and rolls her eyes back into her head. She's already sent three toys to the toy-graveyard. Apparently fuzzy stuff tastes good.

We're working with her on leash obedience, and she would prefer to be the only dog in the entire world. We have our work cut out for us, but in the best sense of the term.

As I'm typing this she's curled up on my lap keeping me warm. Thank you again for this wonderful addition to our family.

Sincerely,
Jeff & Sarah Boyle

Well, it's day four and all is perfect! Here are some pictures of our sweetie pie. We have christened Ziggy "CALI" which he responds to impressively. Cali sleeps through the night, does tricks for special treats, behaves as if he's lived here with us for years. He has full access to our home, plus a nice size back patio overlooking the lake. Loves to ride on the boat looking around at all the water fowl. Very, very inquisitive. Walks out to the patio and sits looking out.

He's so cute. Friendly with neighbors, growls at the man across the lake, loves his new fleeced top bed, not into retrieving yet -- but that's ok. Our families are all so excited for us since they know we've been thinking of adding a new family member.

We've purchased the suggested line of food ... and he licks the bowl. Well it's time for our 1/2 hour walk around the golf course. He's become a favorite with the women golfers.

Thanks for uniting us!
Suzanne, Janet & Cali

I'm just writing to tell you how pleased I am to have been rescued by Bichon FurKids. You see I was so unhappy in my previous home that I escaped four times. The last time I ended up at the shelter they decided I was an aggressive dog that could not be trained and they scheduled me to 'go to sleep.' Bichon FurKids thought I could be rehabilitated... so they sent me to this amazing foster Mom who thought I fit in with her brood right away.

She said it all started with my name... that I was not a 'Fluffy' nor did I act like one. She named me Rudy ('cause sometimes I'm not the most sensitive of little guys) and the real me started to come out. I'm now very independent but loving - I like to play and play and play. And I've taught all my brothers and sisters a thing or two, Of course Mom flunked fostering - she said I was (and am!) the perfect addition to the family. And I am.

Now, can you find me in the bed? I think I'm hiding pretty well... That's as much running away as I do any more. I'm so happy that I live here I'll never run away again.

All my love,
Rudy (and Mommy Kristin, too!)

How can I ever thank you enough for Teddy? He is the joy of my life. Since he has been with me, everything is much better.Teddy has taken charge and I'm just here to do his bidding. I understand how hard it was for you to give him up and am so grateful to you for all you did for him -- and for trusting me to be his forever mom.

This morning I woke up with a precious little head next to mine on the pillow and thought "It doesn't get any better than this." Teddy is able to look right into my heart. Since he came, my blood pressure has stabilized enough that the Dr. thinks I may be able to cut the blood pressure meds in half!

You cannot be around Teddy and be depressed or whatever. He is so much fun! We play games, explore the neighborhood, go for car rides, visit people who have doggies, etc.

I dearly love him and tell him so every day and I really think he knows what I'm saying. We have lots of cuddle time because we both like it. He has brought joy and purpose into my life that I had been missing for a while. I'm even inspired to start writing again!

He is generally such a sweet loving little guy. One day he decided to get snarly when I was trying to get a burr out of his paw. I got right in his face and said, "Don't you talk to me like that." The shocked expression on his face was so funny -- but he hasn't done it again since. He does like to push the envelope sometimes - just like you said.

Thanks again. You are truly special.

Love,
Teddy and Rosemary

PS Do you realize that you not only saved a wonderful little dog but you saved a grateful old lady too! Thank you!

We adopted a little bichon who started off as a skinny little guy named Ruffles. Since he didn't seem to know his name and did a "Rockford" on the coffee table the first day we had him, we thought that Rockford would better suit him better -- and that evolved to us calling him Rocky. Rocky is always in action as you can see in the photo with his soccer ball. His signature pose is laying on the floor with his back legs out. He lets me cuddle him whenever I want, which is the most important thing of all! Rocky is a great addition to our family and is a lot of fun to have around.

Emmalee, Dan and Rocky Hulls

We had been a one dog household for many years and felt that our other dog, a 5 year old English Cocker Spaniel, needed a friend. So, we contacted Mena Thiers, of Bichon FurKids, in the hopes that she might have a small to medium breed dog that would fit in with our family. The dog had to like other dogs and do well with children, so we knew it might be difficult to find a dog to adopt. We were so thrilled to find out that Angel was immediately available foadoption and so the arrangements were made.

The day Angel came home with us, Chester fell in love. The two of them play together, romp around and have a great time. Angel has fit right into our family. She is incredibly patient with our three children, who adore her. Every night, she picks a child's bed to sleep on and "goes to sleep" with one of the girls. When they fall alseep, she comes downstairs to be with us! She is truly a "people person" and just loves to be with us. She definitely has made a positive impact on our family and we can't imagine life without her now! Here is a picture of her in her nightly routine with one of our daughters. Thank you, Bichon FurKids, for a fantastic adoption and an amazing addition to our family!

The Spiegel Family
Eric, Lisa, Madison, Jillian, Camryn, Chester and Angel

We had promised my son Riley a dog when we moved into our house - and he, of course remembered. He was getting older and wanted to help with the responsibility of a pet. We had the good fortune of knowing Marti and met Mena and of finding our way to the Bichon FurKids Rescue website. There were three kid-friendly Bichons that were available in Los Angeles (critical because Riley is 4 1/2 and Kyle is 10 1/2 and many children come in and out o of our home). After a few phone calls, we made an appointment with Jeanine and drove from San Diego to Los Angeles to pick up our new family member. Riley took each dog out for a walk and then decided on Dash who was cute, despite being skinny as could be, and having a cough. He slept all the way home with Riley (who was thrilled!) then went to the vet a few days later for his cough. (One of the nice things about adopting a pet through Bichon FurKids Rescue is you receive a free month of Pet Insurance. Once the nominal deductible has been met, the visit is usually covered. We decided to extend the insurance for Dash the following month for an annual policy.)

Dash is doing very well now. He has gained weight, goes to the groomer (which he loves) is housebroken, leash-trained and crate-trained. He stays in the crate when we leave the house and sleeps - but we don't leave him for more than 3-4 hours because he would get very lonely (and so would we!)

When we are home he has the run of the place! He even sleeps with mommy and daddy on their feather comforter. Dash has learned to fetch and has about 15 toys to play with, all of which reside in his own toy basket. He even has his own treat jar on the counter next to the kids' cookie jar. We've started dog training classes and found Dash is pretty easy to train and likes to socialize with other dogs.

Dash has moved right into our home and has become one of the family, We appreciate all of the great work that Bichon FurKids Rescue has done in San Diego and Los Angeles. If it wasn't for their tireless efforts, we would never have met our Dash. Thank you!!

Christina, Kelly, Kyle, Riley and Dash Carter